Small Asteroid Will Pass Close To Earth On March 5

Graphic indicates the cloud of possible locations asteroid 2013 TX68 will be in at the time of its closest approach to Earth during its safe flyby of our planet on March 5. The nearest point in this graphic above Earth represents the very closest the asteroid could possibly come -- which is no closer than 11,000 miles. On the far left, a point indicates the very farthest out the asteroid could be when it flies past -- about 9 million miles. Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech

According to NASA the asteroid could potentially make an even closer pass to our planet. NASA has assured the asteroid poses no danger to Earth. The small asteroid is estimated to be about 100 feet in diameter.

However the proximity of the asteroid to earth remains a mystery. It is still not known how close the asteroid will get to Earth. NASA has predicted the asteroid would come as close as 11,000 miles to Earth. The asteroid could also fly past as far away as 9 million miles. The asteroid will pass by the vicinity of the Earth on the 5th of March, 2016.

NASA was only able to track the asteroid for three days after it began approaching Earth. The approach of the asteroid began on the 6th of October, 2013. So NASA has predicted such a large range of the asteroid.

The NASA blog states the asteroid was not tracked for very long. So the scientists cannot predict its precise orbit around the sun.

The scientists at NASA are sure about the fact the asteroid will flyby next month and will not impact Earth. The satellites at NASA may be able to pick up the object when it flies by Earth next month.

The NASA's Center for Near Earth Object Studies has also made an interesting prediction. The asteroid could come back towards Earth in 2017. Even then the chances of impact with Earth are ‘extremely remote’.

"This asteroid’s orbit is quite uncertain, and it will be hard to predict where to look for it," said Paul Chodas, manager of CNEOS. "There is a chance that the asteroid will be picked up by our asteroid search telescopes when it safely flies past us next month, providing us with data to more precisely define its orbit around the sun."